The Labour Government

[Churchlawtonblue]

Those people should be taxed or incentivised out of occupying homes designed for families.

Thank you commisar Kobayashi.

 

[Mr Kobayashi]

Thank you commisar Kobayashi.

Similar policies predate Communism by thousands of years.

Bachelor tax - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[bluenova]

I'm talking about population increase here. That combined with a significant drop in new build completions, I presented the figures in a earlier post today. These are without doubt the main reason for a lack of housing.

I agree with the drop in new builds, and in particular the right kind of new builds. There are other supply side issues that I mentioned, like second homes, airbnbs, investment properties etc. to add to that.

I also agree that population increase is one of the main issues - although as I've pointed out many times now, population increases over the last 40 years have been as much about demographic changes as net migration.

And if household sizes are coming down, then that's a huge factor too. If the population had stayed the same size since 1970, we'd still have needed around 25% more houses, just to meet that change in how people want to live.

 

[Vic]

They rent landlords charge is dictated to them by the demand. It's that simple.

Only since the Tories abolished rent controls.

 

[Vic]

Ah, the old two wrongs make a right argument!

It's Tory hypocrisy (by Badenoch and some on here) that's the issue. But Johnson and Lammy were both right. Trump is a clear and present danger to the planet - and you have to deal carefully with insane people who can do damage.

 

[hilts]

Nobody, but there has definitely been a lack of consistency in the stated aims of the right wing in the UK over the past 10 years. Starting with pensions, you want a system where pensions increase by the maximum possible amount indefinitely, at a time where the largest generation is retiring and there won't be the working-age population to support them. That's fine as long as you can increase the working-age population to support such an outlay, but they also claim to want to reduce immigration to the tens of thousands. So instead, you could rely on increasing the birth rate, but they've done everything possible to disincentivise that too, from capping child benefit to doing very little to address huge childcare costs that parents are forced to pay because it's impossible to survive on a single wage and have one parent stay at home nowadays.

Say what you like about Viktor Orban, but at least he combines his anti-immigration rhetoric with incentives for the local population to have more children. You see being anti-immigrant is fine if you're going to invest properly in enabling Brits to do all of these jobs. I'd be delighted if, instead of having to bring him thousands of doctors and nurses from overseas, thousands of British kids were given the opportunity to train (requires more long-term thinking though), but the thing about right wing politics is that they consistently combine an anti-immigrant rhetoric with fuck all investment in the local population, so all you're left with is public services and businesses with massive skill shortages (which is why even when they spout anti-immigrant rhetoric, the Tories rarely actually do anything to reduce it, because they know it'll make things harder for businesses).

The subject is so poisonous on here a rational debate can never be had. Hence you get comments like for those who don't want any immigration:-)

It never gets anywhere on here

 

[Vic]

The point and only point is she is ending/trying to end something she took advantage of.

It really was as simple as that.

Being simple is thinking that has any relevance to a policy to end RTPB now, knowing how silly it's been.

 

[Vic]

Two different things here, one is controlled immigration where people apply for jobs. The other is illegal uncontrolled migration, where the state has no control over the people coming in or their suitability for any job vacancies.

And all the fuss is over the latter - a small fraction of the former. And most have ended up as legal immigrants because they apply for and get asylum.

 

[Vic]

People constantly say: 'You shouldn't have children if you can't afford them.'

Same people: 'We shouldn't have immigrants.'

They just can't see the inconsistency inherent in their position.

It's like saying 'City should win the PL each year' and 'City should always have an English manager and not have any incoming transfer above £20 million.'

Version Two.

1. "Do you want a fully-staffed NHS?"
(If "No", end conversation. If "Yes" ask question 2.)

2. "Do you want more immigration?"
(Stand well back.)

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

It's Tory hypocrisy (by Badenoch and some on here) that's the issue. But Johnson and Lammy were both right. Trump is a clear and present danger to the planet - and you have to deal carefully with insane people who can do damage.

Agrees but when you're a politician, you have to be a bit more diplomatic than what Lammy and Johnson were.